Expanding arbor type reel grab



May 16, 1950 G. K. REYNOLDS EXPANDING ARBOR TYPE REEL GRAB '.5 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug. 29, 1947 May 16, 950 G. K. REYNOLDS EXPANDING ARBOR TYPE REEL GRAB 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 29, 1947 Patented May 16, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE EXPANDIN G ARBOR TYPE REEL GRAB Application August 29, 1947, Serial No. 771,191

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a reel grab and more particularly to an expanding arbor type reel grab to be expanded into gripping engagement with the inner surfaces of the drum of a reel.

It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved expanding type of reel grab which is readily applicable to and releasable from a reel.

In one embodiment of the reel grab to grippingly engage the inner surface of the arbor aperture or drum of a reel, there is provided a pair of opposed semi-cylindrical shoes or gripping members forming a split cylindrical bushing and having opposed inclined recesses therein forming a tapered aperture for receiving a tapered shank f an arbor and a set of rollers positioned between the tapered surfaces of the arbor and the shoes. The arbor has an eyelet at the upper end thereof for connection to a hoist and is movable axially relative to the shoes to cause the tapered shank of the arbor to cam the shoes outwardly into gripping engagement with the drum of the reel. The arbor, when a reel it has been supporting is held against downward movement may be moved downwardly relative to the shoes to release the gripping engagement between the shoes and the drum of the reel and a latch mechanism connected to the shoes is provided to latch onto a collar on the arbor when the arbor has been lowered sufciently and thereby retain the shoes in released or contracted position on the arbor and permit the removal of the grab from the drum of the reel. A latch release mechanism is provided to release the latch mechanism from the collar on the arbor and permit the arbor to move upwardly relative to the shoes so that the shoes may be expanded into gripping engagement with the drum of a reel.

The invention will be more fully understood by reference to the following detailed description thereof and the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment thereof in which Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of the grab shown in inoperative position within a reel drum indicated in dot and dash lines;

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the grab in inoperative position with a portion of the latch release mechanism shown in section;

Fig. 3 is a vertical central sectional view through the grab showing the grab in operative position with the gripping members expanded into gripping engagement with the inner surface of the drum of the reel, which is indicated in dot and dash lines;

4 is a vertical central sectional View of the 2 grab shown in operative position and taken on the line 4-4 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of the upper portion of the grab showing the mechanism in the position illustrated in Fig. 4;

Figs. 6 and '7 are horizontal sectional views taken on the lines 6 6 and 'II, respectively, of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view of the grab.

Referring to the drawings, the grab I0 comprises a pair of semi-cylindrical gripping members or shoes II and I2 having outer cylindrical surfaces I3 and I4 (Fig. 7) and fiat surfaces I5 and I6 arranged opposite each other. The shoes II and I2 form a split cylindrical bushing which, as shown in Fig. 1 in unexpanded condition, is of a diameter to fit freely within an aperture of the drum I8 of the reel I9, to which the grab Il) is t0 be attached for purposes of conveying the reel. The lower end of the split bushing is tapered, as indicated at 20, to facilitate the enlance of the split bushing into a reel drum aper- Longitudinal angularly disposed recesses 22 and 23 of rectangular cross section are formed in the shoes II and I2, respectively, and together form an axially disposed tapering aperture having oppositely inclined flat surfaces 24 and 25. Antifriction members in the form of rollers 28 and 29 are arranged in a row in each of the recesses 22 and 23 against the surfaces 24 and 25 and are retained therein against downward displacement by rectangular blocks 30 and 3| secured in the lower end of the recesses by pins 32. The rollers 28 and 29 are freely rotatable and are held against transverse displacement by the inclined surfaces 33 (Fig. 7) formed on retaining members 34-34. The retaining members 34 have flanges 35 seated in laterally extending recesses 36 in the shoes I I and I2 and are secured to the shoes by screws 3l. Spaced apart from each other on each shoe, the retaining members 34-34 serve as a guide member for laterally positioning the lower end 40 of an arbor 4I mounted in the tapered recess.

The lower tapered portion il! of the arbor is rectangular in cross section and is provided With oppositely inclined surfaces d3 and 44 having the same inclination as the surfaces 24 and 25 of the recesses in the shoes II and I2. The upper portion of the arbor forms a cylindrical post, as indicated at yt5, and, at its upper end, is provided with an eyelet 46, to which may be attached a hook or other connection 4l of a hoist or other suitable conveying mechanism, by means of which the grab I and the reel may be raised and moved about. The arbor 4I and the shoes I I and I2 are designed so that when the grab is lowered onto a horizontal surface, the arbor, of its own weight, moves down into engagement with the surface, as indicated in Fig. l., and the shoes are free to move towards each other to their unexpanded or inoperative position. Upward movement of the arbor 4I relative to the shoes causes the shoes to be cammed apart by the wedge action of the arbor into operative position.

To tie the lower end of the shoes together and prevent excess separation thereof, a pair of links 49-49 are provided. The links 453-49 are disposed in slots in the shoes and are pivotally one end thereof to the shoes il and I2 by pins 56-56 and at their other end by pins 5T to a guide member or collar 50 mounted for longitudinal movement on the arbor. Disposed at right angles to the links 54-55 on opposite sides of the arbor are a pair of latches G -fE-I extending upwardly from and pivoted by pins Sil-54 to the guide member 60. The latches ihave inwardly vdirected hook portions 56 adapted, in one position of the latches 6I, to be positioned in the path of longitudinal movement of and engage the upper surface of a shoulder or collar 68 on the arbor 4I. rhe shoulder 58 may be formed integrally with the arbor but preferably, as here illustrated, is formed as a collar threaded by engaging the arbor and securely anchored thereto bya set screw 'I8 (Fig. 3). Transverse portions 'I2 of the latches 6I are `pivotally' connected at 'i3 to the clevis portion 'I4 of the cross arms 'I5 `and 16, respectively, of a pair of ybail-shaped toggle members 'Il and V12%, the spaced parallel legs of which are pivotally connected to each other at 82.

A pair of coiled contractile springs l2-82, con nected to the .cross arms 'I5 and 'IS of the toggle members 'I'I vand 'I8, stress them and the latches 6I for movement towards each other. The parallel legs of the toggle member I3 are continuedto the left beyond the pivot 80, as viewed in Figs. 2, 4 and 5, to form a closed loop and terminate in an operating handle 84. When the handle 84 is moved downwardly, the toggle members 'il and 'I8 are operated to rock the latches 6I about their lower` pivots 64 and move the hooks Gt outwardly whereby the latches 6I are moved from a latched position in engagement with or in the path of the shoulder 63, as shown in Fig. 2, to an unlatched or disengaged position, as shown in Fig. 4.

Thus, with this construction, when the grab IG is lowered onto a horizontal surface, the shoes I i and I2 and the arbor 4I come to rest on the surface and assume the position shown in Figs. l and 2 with the hooks 65 of the latches 6I moved inwardly by the springs E6 and the toggle members 'I'I and 78 to the latched position directly above the shoulder 68, as shown in Fig. 2. It will be seen that when the arbor 4I is raised, the hook portions 65 of the latches will engage the shoulder 68 and, in cooperation with the guide member 69 and the links 54 and 55, will connect the shoes I I and I2 to the arbor for vertical movement therewith. The links 54 are angularly inclined -relative to the axis'of the grab with their lower ends,

pivotally connected to the shoes I I and I2, spaced apart a greater distance than their upper ends so that when the shoes I I and I2 are freely suspended therefrom, the links cause the shoes to move inwardly toward each other to their inoperative or unexpanded position, as shown in Fig. 1.

The grab i, in this unexpanded condition, may then be inserted in the reel drum aperture and the operating handle 84 moved downwardly to `cause the toggle links TI and I8 to move the latches 6I outwardly and disengage the hook portions 66 thereof from the shoulder 68. With the hook portions e36 and the latches 6I disengaged from the shoulder t8 of the arbor, the arbor may be raised. causing a longitudinal movement of the wedge portion 40 thereof relative to the shoes i I and I2 and a consequent radial separating movement of the shoes into gripping engagement with the drum I3 of the reel. After the arbor 4I and the shoulder 68 thereon have moved upwardly relative to the shoes `II and I2 .and .the hooked portions 65 of the latches Bi, .the handle 84 may be released and the -latches 6I will be retained in their disengaged or unlatched position, -as shown in Fig. 4, thus permitting free axial movement of the arbor relative to the shoes. With the shoes E I and I2 in gripping engagement with the drum of the reel, a continued upward movement of the arbor will result in the upward movement-of -the reel, which may then be conveyed to lthe desired location. After the reel Yhas been conveyed toits destination and placed on a horizontal surface and it is desired to releasethe grab therefrom, it is only necessary to lower-the hoist to allow the arbor 4I to move down-wardrelative to the shoes I i and I2 to the point where the hooksi ofthe latches 6I may ride over the `shoulder 68 to their latched position, shown vin Fig. 2. The downward movement of the arbor relative to theshoes will .release the wedging raction `of the arbor on the shoes and .permit them to become'disen'gaged from vthe surface of the reel .drum I8. Asthe arbor lll is again raised, the latches 6I., in their latched positiomact to connect theshoes II and I2 in their unexpanded condition to the arbor and the grab I0 may then be removed lfrom the .reel

drum.

What is claimed is:

l. An expanding reel grab .comprisingva plurality of shoes arranged for radial movement about an axis and having outer Vgripping surfaces and inner axial recesses with siufaces inclined relative to said :axis to form an axially tapered aperture, an arbor connectible to Ya conveying mechanism and having a, tapered portion disposed within said tapered aperture and with vinclined surfaces parallel to the inclined surfaces .in said aperture formed by said shoes, anti-.friction members between said yinclined surfaces .on .said arbor and said shoes, said arbor being .axially movable relative to said ,shoes to impart radial outward movement to said shoes, .a shoulder on said arbor, latches operatively connected to said shoes and movable into engagement with ysaid shoulder to connect said shoes to said arbor for axial movement therewith, and means for .disengaging said latches from saidshoulder to per-v mit axial movement of said arbor relative to said shoes.

2. An expanding reel grab comprising va plurality o'f shoes arranged about a vertical axis for transverse movement relative to said axis Vand having outer gripping surfaces 'and inner inclined faces forming a taperedaxially-disposed aperture, an arbor connectible to a conveying mechanism and :having a tapered portion axially :disposed-in said tapered aperture for axial movement relative to said shoes and having flat inclined -faces parallel to the inclined faces of said shoes, antivfriction members between said inclined faces of said arbor and said shoes, latching means opertending tapered aperture therein, an arbor connectible to a hoist and having a tapered portion disposed for longitudinal movement within the tapered aperture of said shoes, rollers interposed between the tapered surfaces of said recess and said arbor, a shoulder on said arbor, latch means connected to said shoes and movable into operative position in engagement with said shoulder on said arbor to connect said shoes to said arbor for movement therewith, and means for actuatingsaid latch means to disconnect the shoes from movement with said arbor.

4. An expandable reel grab comprising a pair of shoes arranged about a vertical axis for transverse movement relative to said axis and having outer cylindrical gripping surfaces and having inner longitudinal recesses with opposed nclined ilat surfaces forming an axially disposed tapered aperture, an arbor connectible to a conveying mechanism and having a tapered portion axially disposed in said tapered aperture for axial movement relative to said shoes and having flat inclined surfaces parallel to the at inclined surfaces of said shoes, anti-friction roller members mounted between the inclined surfaces of said arbor and said shoes, a guide member mounted for axial movement on said arbor above said shoes, links pivotally connecting said shoes to said guide member, said links being angularly disposed whereby when said shoes are freely suspended by said links, they are moved toward said axis, a shoulder on said arbor above said guide member, latches pivotally connected to said guide member operable to engage said shoulder on said arbor to connect said shoes to said arbor for longitudinal movement therewith in response to a downward axial movement of said arbor to a predetermined position relative to said shoes, and actuating means for disengaging said latches from said shoes.

5. An expandable reel grab comprising a plurality of shoes arranged about a vertical axis for transverse movement relative to said axis and having outer gripping surfaces and inner axially disposed recesses with at inclined surfaces forming a tapered axially disposed aperture, an arbor connectible to a conveying mechanism and having a tapered portion axially disposed in said tapered aperture for axial movement relative to said shoes and having flat inclined surfaces parallel to the inclined surfaces of said shoes, a plurality of rollersk mounted between the inclined surfaces of said arbor and said shoes, a guide member mounted for axial movement on said arbor above said shoes, links pivotally connecting said shoes to said guide member, a shoulder on said arbor, latches pivotally connected to said guide member and operable to engage said shoulder on said arbor to connect said shoes to said arbor for longitudinal movement therewith in response to a downward axial movement of said 6 arbor to a predetermined position relative to said shoes, and actuating means to disengage said latches from said shoulder.

6. An expandable reel grab comprising a pair shoes disposed on opposite sides of a vertical axis for transverse movement relative to said axis and having semi-cylindrical outer gripping surfaces concentric with said axis and inner longitudinal recesses with opposed inclined fiat surfaces forming a tapered axially disposed aperture between said shoes, an arbor connectible to a conveying mechanism and having a tapered portion axially disposed in said tapered recess for axial movement relative to said shoes and having flat inclined surfaces parallel to the flat inclined surfaces of said shoes, anti-friction roller members mounted on said shoes between the inclined surfaces of said arbor and said shoes, a guide member mounted for axial movement on said arbor above said shoes, a pair of links on opposite sides of said arbor pivotally connected at their upper ends to said guide member and pivotally connected at their lower ends to said shoes at a greater distance from said axis than said upper ends thereof whereby said shoes, when freely suspended by said links, are moved toward said axis, a shoulder on said arbor above said guide mem-ber, a pair of latches on opposite sides of said arbor pivotally connected to said guide member and operable to engage said shoulder on said arbor to connect said shoes to said arbor for longitudinal movement therewith in response to a downward movement of said arbor to a predetermined position relative to said shoes, a pair of toggle members pivotally connected to said latches and to each other to form a toggle operable for actuating said latches, spring means normally stressing said toggle members in one direction to urge said latches into engagement with said shoulder, and an operating member connected to said toggle for moving said toggle members to disengage said latches from said shoulder.

7. An expandable reel grab comprising a plurality of shoes arranged about a vertical axis for transverse movement relative to said axis and having outer gripping surfaces and inwardly directed longitudinal recesses forming an axially disposed aperture, an arbor connectible to a conveying mechanism and having inclined surfaces thereon forming a tapered portion axially disposed in said axial aperture formed by the recesses of said shoes and movable axially relative to said shoes, angularly disposed bearing means on said shoes engageable with the inclined surfaces of said arbor, a member mounted for axial movement about said arbor above said shoes and interconnected with said shoes, a shoulder on said arbor, latches pivotally connected to said member and operable to engage said shoulder on said arbor to connect said shoes to said arbor for longitudinal movement therewith when said arbor is in a predetermined position axially relative to said shoes, and means to disengage said latches from said shoulder.

8. In a reel grab, a central post for connection to a conveying mechanism, a tapered arbor connected to said central post, a pair of bushing members substantially encircling the tapered arbor and having recesses extending longitudinally thereof, rollersmounted on said bushing members in position to bear against the tapered portion of said arbor, a collar fixed to the post, a second collar slidable with respect to the post and interconnected with the bushing members,

7 latching mechanism on said second collar engageable with the fixed collar for connecting the bushing members to said arbor' for longitudinal movement therewith, and means for disengaging the latching mechanism from said -xed collar.

9. An expandable reel grab comprising an arbor connectible to a conveying mechanism and having the lower portion of rectangular cross section with one pair of opposite surfaces parallel and the other pair of opposite surfaces inclined to form an upwardly tapering Wedge portion, a pair of opposed shoes having outer cylindrical gripping surfaces and inner longitudinal extending recesses forming an axially disposed aperture with opposed tapering surfaces for receiving the tapered portion of said arbor therein for relative movement axially and transversely thereof, rollers mounted on said shoes and engageable with the inclined surfaces of said arbor and said shoes, spaced surfaces on said shoes slidably engaging the parallel surfaces of said arbor for guiding said shoes and said arbor for relative movement parallel to said parallel surfaces, latching mechanism operable to connect said shoes to said arbor for axial movement therewith, and means for actuating said latching lsaid arbor, latching means operable to connect said bushing members to said arbor for longitudinal movement therewith, and means for actuating said latohing mechanism to release said bushings from movement with saidarbor.

GEORGE K. REYNOLDS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 416,782 Grosvenor Dec. 10, 1889 537,789 Sinclair Apr. 16, 1895 718,700 Crosby et al Jan. 20, 1903 1,233,800 Morey J-uly 17, 1917 

